imacick6

Honestly, there's too much to do to spend time thinking about it. So I just set my expectations low and let whatever happens happen. And yet, here I am, checking the forum.... :-)

Glad to hear it worked out. In my case, I provided letter writers with both essays, along with a CV and transcripts, and a bullet outline of the major points I hoped for them to address in my letters. Obviously, depending on the nature of your relationship with your letter writers, this can be helpful or not. I felt that given the nature of the application and the key points that needed to be addressed, I highlighted how both myself and the research I hope to conduct fit within the IM and BI of the NSF's requirements. This at least gives them a jumping off point for them to work from.

They have extended the submission until tomorrow at 5:00 EST. I know mine came down to the wire too, so I do sympathize. One work around would be to draft your own letter (or at least provide a very detailed outline) and insist on meeting/ Skyping them tomorrow to go over it and clarify what needs to be done by 5:00 EST that day. Hold their feet to the fire and force them to make a decision (either support you or not). If that fails, try to get a current Post-Doc to write something (anything) so you don't get disqualified on the reference letter requirements. Good luck!

This says it all right now.

Had a very similar situation to you, but in a different field. I can't imagine the recommendations would be that different. There are three huge things you can do to improve your chances. #1: Finish your degree. #2: Take courses that are in your field (either upper undergraduate/ graduate classes) and do well in them. #3: Find a lab/ research team/ sponsor/ who will support you and fight for you for your admission. Preferably this will be in a reasearch area you are interested in, but sometimes you have to take what you can get. Good luck!

I ended up speaking about a very clear moment in research when I realized that I wasn't doing exactly what I envisioned. I wanted a more broad and applied field, but found myself stuck in a position that didn't provide that. Instead, I struck out across country and gambled on myself and my abilities. I had taken some lumps in undergrad, but they helped me toughen up and get serious. I just keep knocking on doors and when one finally opened, I plowed ahead. I tried to emphasize that even though I'm not the superstar, I'm tough, tenacious, resourceful, and determined to get what I want. Hopefully that gives you something to work with or an angle to play. I'll see what the feedback is regarding that and maybe it will completely change in drafts 3-5.

I just had a few thoughts I wanted to throw out and, hopefully, get some feedback on: I'm feeling confident about my research proposal. I've run the proposal by a few post-docs in my lab and their responses have been very positive. One even suggested it was a full-fledged grant application, which probably made my heart jump a bit too much. Either way, I feel like with the example essays I've found and the ideas I have, I have got a solid IM and BI association with a relevant and important topic. My big struggle is the personal essay. I know I'm not the most competitive candidate and I am having a hard time reconciling what the GRFP says they do and what actually gets rewarded. They claim to fund "people, not projects" which, while good, I feel like it might not play to my strengths as an applicant. A lot of the essays I've read come from outstanding applicants and I feel like I really have a mountain to climb compared to them. How should I play up this larger personal essay without making it a sob-story? I'm not interested in throwing a pity party, but I want to be honest about what I struggled with and show that I'm not the same person anymore. I should note that I am a M.S. student in my first year, so this is the only shot I'll have at this award. If anyone has experience with this or advice, I would be very grateful for their help. Here are the items I feel hold be back and some that can help me if I can link them together: Negatives: horrific uGPA (2.0), only 4 years in research, no peer review publications, "low" graduate GPA (3.2) Positives: acting lab manager in my current lab (1 year), 2 years of field experience, 2 years research experience in my lab, 2 non-peer review publications, 4 posters (two first author, 2 contributing), 2 conferences attended, professional society committee involvement, guest lecture in several graduate classes, community involvement through extension/ field day outreach, mentor for undergrads/ upcoming scientists, promoting STEM diversity (most undergrads have been minority students and female), and renewed passion for science and community involvement (reflected in my current research and success).

No, I understand that. I may be confusing you with another poster here. I just haven't seen many posts by people with GPAs as low as mine, so your reference to your story may have rung a bell. Just not the right one.

I think I recall seeing your posts earlier. They were some of the very few that depicted a similar story to mine, that's probably why they stuck with me.

True Story: I graduated with a 2.0 (overall) in biochemistry from a mid-sized land grant university. I actually dropped out, relocated back east, and finished my degree 3 years later. After I had already been in school for 7 years prior to that. Long story short, I was totally lost and didn't know what I wanted to do. Back east, worked dead end jobs while taking undergrad classes, filled out 300 + job applications, finished my BS, and interviewed 3 separate times with the same PI before being offered a job scrubbing dishes. I was the lab bitch for 8 months, while taking graduate level classes on my own dime and sometimes working 2 jobs, until my lab manager left our group in the spring. I was offered her job full time, or I could take her job part time and work towards getting into grad school. In those 8 months, I learned how to basically run the lab. If it didn't involve the lab credit card, I could pretty much do it. I turned down the full time job, took my GRE over the summer, and applied for admissions in spring 2016 for a MS. My GPA over 23 credits since my undergrad degree is a 3.6, with a 3.2 in 11 grad credits. GRE scores were 162,150,4.5. If there is anyone with longer odds than me, I have never seen it posted on any forum in 4 years of looking. I just got admitted to my top choice yesterday. The facts are these: no one gives a shit about your education or future like you do. People can give you opportunities, but you have to recognize the good ones and be willing to work to earn them. There is no substitute for hard work, not even talent can trump it. I know I didn't succeed because I'm brilliant, but I do know I will fail and have failed because I didn't work hard. Seek out people who will take a chance on you, give them a reason to take a chance on you, and work your ass off to show them you are worth a shit. Because there is always someone better out there. I cannot stress this enough; you have to find something you are truly passionate about. Something that is the last thing you think of when you go to bed and the first thing you think of when you wake up. Once you find that thing, you know you are on the right track. Just keep working. And also, don't forget to smile. No one likes an asshole. No matter how hard they work. Best of luck.

Is it the guy who always asks for change to get "a coffee, a water, or something"? He's usually in a light brown down winter coat, I think. I swear, he's given me the same song and dance 5 times in a row. Is there anything the cops can do to get this guy help or are there some rules he's breaking that will stop the panhandling?

I just finished on Thursday. Very glad to have that over with.